you apply for entry into a training program at a prestigious institution.
you are given a test.
you are brought into a room, and you are shown a clear drum containing 800 white ping pong balls. the balls are absolutely identical except that they are numbered and marked 1 through 800 .
each ping pong ball is also randomly assigned to one of eight subgroups of 100 balls each. the groups are listed as a, b, c, d, e, f, g, and h. the balls are not marked with the letter of the group they belong to.
the testers have a list showing which ping pong balls belong to which subgroup. you are not shown the list.
80 balls are randomly taken out of the drum and given to you. your task is to sort them according to their lettered subgroup into 8 groups of 10 balls each. you must end up with 10 in each subgroup a, b, c. d e. f. g, h, and each ball must be in its correct subgroup.
you are given 10 minutes to do it.
if you succeed, you will be given further tests.
if you fail, you will be taken out and shot, or, perhaps, just not be admitted into the prestigious institution’s training program.
do you think this is a fair test?
if not, what do you think is unfair about t?
out of 1,000 applicants, what do you think is the most likely number who could pass the test?
a) 1000 - it is impossible not to succeed
b) 250 - 1000
c) 100 - 250
d) 10 - 100
e) 5 - 10
f) fewer than 5
